2nd International Conference on Economy, Management and Education Technology (ICEMET 2016)

Interpretation of Female Images and Character’s Destiny in Vanity Fair

Liting Wang1, a
1
School of Foreign Languages, Anshan Normal University, Anshan 114007, China
a
597182898@qq.com

Keywords: Vanity Fair; female images; character’s destiny

Abstract. Numerous outstanding works were born in British literature in the 19th Century. Among
them, Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray is one of the representative works and even
relished by people until today. Female images in it have left a very deep impression on readers and
become one of the most notable literary phenomena in the history of British literature. In realistic
literature, female images tend to reflect social and family conflicts in that era. They are the best
carrier by which the author reveals the society. So this paper attempts to study and expound on female
images and character’s destiny in Vanity Fair.

Introduction
William Makepeace Thackeray is one of the best realistic writers in the 19th Century and keeps
abreast of Charles Dickens in British literature. This is because Thackeray not only creates excellent
realistic works, but also makes important theoretical contributions to the concept of novel. His novel
Vanity Fair is an epitome of Thackeray’s novel theory and also implies his understanding of the
then-existing society. From female images in Vanity Fair, we can catch sight of the inherent
contradictions in society and perceive the shaping effect of social environment on human beings.
They have a vital significance, long-term artistic value and rich spiritual connotations even in
today’s society.

I. The Composition Background of Vanity Fair

The complex plots and character setting in Vanity Fair derive from the author’s meticulous
observation of life. This is the most precious ability and quality for an excellent writer. Thackeray
draws materials from life, adds small potatoes in daily life to the world of Vanity Fair through literary
reconstruction and lets readers feel as if they are actually there. There are no heroes or glamorous
princess, but infinitely real world. It tells stories that can happen to anyone at any time. This
composition technique allows Thackeray to open a new era. In a manner of speaking, Vanity Fair is a
miniature of British society in the 19th Century [1].
William Makepeace Thackeray was born in Britain in the 19th Century, which was the most
brilliant era in British history. Colonies and trade network across the world brought huge profits to
the small island of Britain. Britain became an empire on which the sun never set— a country with the
largest territory in human history. However, all these are judgments given by historian when
overlooking common people in God’s stance. The impression on each person was different. The gap
of wealth was widened. The upper class was lapped in luxury, while the poor have to endure
exploitation from bureaucrats and businessmen helplessly. The whole society was full of vitality and
also confusion. The villeggiatura in agricultural society was destroyed. Industrialized and
commercialized society made interpersonal emotions more and more aloof. Human nature was
distorted before money. Everyone was frantic for fame and fortune. The society became a big vanity
fair [2]. Among those small potato shaped by Thackeray, the ugly face of the entire British upper
class was unveiled and no one can pull away from it.

II．Classic Female Images and Character’s Destiny in Vanity Fair

(I) Viability
© 2016. The authors - Published by Atlantis Press 417
 Women’s dignity comes from their independent viability in life. However, in Victorian age,
women’s rights were not emancipated. Neither Becky nor Amelia is able to keep a foothold in
society on their own. Both of them need to draw support from man’s power, although they have
different family backgrounds and also different methods and routes of ups and downs in society.
Becky is supposed to be a woman of great viability. She was born in the lowest rung, clever,
quick-witted, understands the rules of society and always wishes to use social rules to achieve her
goal. However, these rules are not friendly to a positive woman. Becky is unlikely to become
so-called glitterati through her efforts. She can only use a variety of men to achieve her goal.
However, this road is also full of frustrations. She shows her desire to marry a rich man returning
from India, Joseph, but fails because of his timidity. Later she tries to fall in love with Rawdon, but
eventually her marriage with Rawdon doesn’t bring her ideal life but breaks up for Becky turns to
pursue other men [3].
Under such social rules, if Becky wants to change her destiny, she must cling to men incessantly.
There is no other way out. Her survival depends on men.
While Becky’s classmate Amelia is a pampered young lady from a large estate. She has neither
living skills nor a clear understanding of society. She has been set up for life since childhood and
takes it for granted. Although misfortunes happen to her later, she still maintains her identity as a
genteel lady and turns her son over a rich family which can give him a luxurious upbringing. Amelia
is a typical parasite in the patriarchal society [4].
(II) Attitude towards Family and Marriage
Becky and Amelia’s attitudes towards family and marriage also differ a lot. For Becky, the most
important thing is to edge herself into the best society and lead an extravagant life. Others are not
important. Becky flirts with countless men not because of love. She doesn’t even love her husband.
Instead, she fancies entering the uppertendom with the aid of these men. For Becky, love doesn’t
make any sense, and marriage is just a means of promotion. She needs to use man’s power to satisfy
her desire. The portrayal of the cold-blooded and unsentimental Becky also includes her affections
with her son. Becky is pretty and good at singing. But her song has never been heard until her son is 5
years old. It is thus clear that this mother is absolutely unsentimental with her son and has no pity at
all when sending him to boarding school. Becky has lost conscience in pursuit of fame and fortune
and lost the ability to feel family affections and love.
Amelia is totally different from Becky. She is a canary caged by the patriarchal society. Since she
doesn’t have to work and enjoy fruits of man’s labor, she must completely accept characters and
world outlooks imposed by men. As a traditional woman in Victorian age, Amelia doesn’t have a
strong heart. Her focus of life is closely related to men, either her father, or her husband, or her son.
She loves George whole-heartedly, but George doesn’t cherish this affection. This is because
Amelia is too feeble and used to be docile, so all men despise her [5].
Amelia dotes on her son, but has no means of livelihood. As a widow, her life goes from from bad
to worse for devoting all the energy to her son. Finally, to enable her son to receive a better life, she
sends him to his grandfather. After losing her son, Amelia is like losing everything. That is because
she doesn’t have her own life and just lives around others.
Whether Becky or Amelia has to rise and fall with social rules in the patriarchal society and finally
accept their pre-established destiny.
(III) Character’s Destiny
When depicting character’s destiny, Thackeray uses a distinct contrast technique. Becky and
Amelia are classmates in childhood. They get married and have babies simultaneously. Their
husbands go out to battle simultaneously. But these seemingly common life experiences lead to
different results. This can only be attributed to their different social classes and characters. Becky
always has an ambition to become a top dog and operates her plan carefully. For this plan, she even
plays hard and regards marriage as a tool. Amelia, however, doesn’t have her own judgment, but

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receives other people’s arrangement. After losing the source of income, she can’t even live by
herself [6-10].
In the final destiny of characters, Becky eventually comes to naught and gets nothing but
abandoned by society, while Amelia wins Dobbin’s love. Their distinct destinies highlight the
creative intention of Thackeray[11-12]. In this story, both Becky and Amelia are products of the
patriarchal society, but Amelia is a rule conformer, while Becky vainly attempts to utilize men, and
even challenge man’s authority to realize her dream[13-14]. This is inconsistent with morality in the
patriarchal society. Thackeray gives Amelia a promising and good ending, because standing on the
position of the patriarchal society, he would more appreciate women like Amelia. Through this
ending, he wants to tell everyone that Amelia is the only model. Although she suffers many a setback,
she manages to find a reliable man. Of course, finally she has to rely on men. Although such a rule
breaker as Becky seems to ride on the crest of success, she would have no good ending.

III. Conclusion
Thackeray’s Vanity Fair reveals British society in the 19th Century vividly and lets readers
comprehend the oppression of then-existing social system on women deeply. This paper, through an
introduction of composition background and analysis of female images and destiny in Vanity Fair,
demonstrates the superb literary skills and profound ideological implications in Vanity Fair.

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